A committee titled "Citizen’s Group for a Vision for Bangladesh" was formed yesterday with a view to streamlining politics by freeing it from corruption, terrorism, communalism and militancy and making politicians accountable to people.

The committee was announced at a citizens’ dialogue on Civil Society Initiative for Development with Accountability," jointly organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), the Daily Prothom Alo and the Daily Star at Hotel Sheraton in the city yesterday.

Former Chief Advisor of Caretaker Government Justice Habibur Rahman addressed the function as chief guest while CPD chairman Professor Rehman Sobhan was in the chair.

The speakers at the dialogue expressed the view that the upcoming general election was very important and crucial, which they said, "should be held in free, fare and neutral manner with the participation of all the parties in the interest of democracy".

Most of the speakers from the civil society criticised politicians for unleashing terrorism, militancy, corruption, politicising administration, protecting interest of party members instead of the general people and for not honouring their election pledges.

Some leading politicians like Law Minister Moudud Ahmed, Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossen, Awami League presidium members Suranjit Sen Gupta and Matia Chowdhury, however, countered the negative opinions about politicians.

Justice Habibur Rahman criticised the successive governments for not separating the judiciary from the executive in breach of their election pledges.

Describing the present political scenario as very bad he said, "A drama is being staged and I hope a change will come through the upcoming election if the civil society becomes active."

"Various reform proposals come forth before elections. But this time the government itself has initiated reforms by increasing retirement ages of some constitutional posts and by increasing the number of election commissioners," said the former Chief Justice who also headed the caretaker government in 1996.

He said, "the government has been destroying the administration by politicising it with contract basis appointments. The parliament has remained ineffective for one and a half decade."

Managing Director of Grameen Bank Professor Muhammad Yunus proposed to launch a movement for nominating and electing competent candidates so that money and muscle power cannot dominate the elections.

He set some specific proposals in this regard including formation of a citizens’ body, which will have its central and branch committees, own election symbol, and will also nominate honest and competent candidates to contest general elections.

Dr Yunus proposed to announce names of competent candidates within one month to contest the upcoming general election. "For this movement, I propose to form a nomination committee consisting of all the retired chief justices of the country empowering it to determine competency of the interested candidates without delay," Yunus said.

Professor Rehman Sobhan in his presidential speech said, "It is the task of the civil society to empower those who are engaged in the task of building a genuine democratic order to identify ways in which the electoral system can be redesigned to encourage political parties to chose candidates who can respond to the expectations of the electorate."

Professor Rehman Sobhan has been made convenor of the Citizen’s Group for a Vision for Bangladesh. Other members of the committee are: Dr Anisuzzaman, Professor Muhammad Yunus, Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Fazle Hasan Abed, Professor Mohammad Zafar Iqbal, Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud, Professor Zamilur Reza Chowdhury, Ambassador Abul Ahsan, Samson H Chowdhury, Syed Manzur Elahi, Professor Hasan Azizul Huq, former cabinet secretary M Mujibul Huq, Maj Gen (Rtd) Moinul Hossain Chowdhury, Dr Mahmuda Islam, former attorney general Mahmudul Islam, Professor Jamal Nazrul Islam, Ms Laila Rahman Kabir, Dr Iqbal Mahmud, MCCI president Latifur Rahman, Chakma Chief and Hill Tracts NGO Forum Chairperson Barrister Raja Devasish Roy, former advisor of caretaker government ASM Shahjahan and former finance minister M Syeduzzaman. CPD executive director Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya will act as the member secretary of the body.

"We would, however, need to look beyond the elections to define a vision for the people of Bangladesh which can influence the strategies of our political parties and find a place in their electoral commitments to the voters," said Professor Rehman Sobhan.

He said, "This community of committed citizens would expect to draw upon a wider community of no less distinguished citizens to support them in their ambitious tasks."

"We look to the support of all citizen’s who believe in a better tomorrow for the people of Bangladesh to support us in the endeavour," Professor Rehman Sobhan said.